In my brief experience in the Midwest I’d say that normally by this time of year we would be in sweaters or at least long sleeves full time by now. Its mid-to-late October and we are having another unseasonal day of 80F. I’m not complaining but the big shifts in temperature keeps sending my cooking plans in a spin. It’s cold one day, shopping day, so I stock up with lots of veg to roast and turn into soups or stews, then we get warm days and all I want is a salad. What’s a gal to do! Well given the huge pot of soup I made this week, I ate the soup but served it warm instead of hot. I don’t mind because I do love soups! This week’s Soup of the Week is an Asparagus, Mushroom Coconut Soup. I tried it out last week when it was a little cooler and boy did it hit the spot! It’s warming, creamy and calming. Made a second batch as part of Sunday batch cooking session to fuel my lunches this week. This soup freezes really well so if the weather suddenly switches to summer weather over night, … [Read more...]

Usually by this time of year we have put away our sundresses and started the morning walk into school with sweatshirts or light jackets. We have been lucky this year with summer weather going through to the third week of September. Not complaining here! The fall equinox was this week, yet summer weather is still forecasted for the near future according to my trusted old weather app! I have been at a bit of a loss for dinners because many of our school night dinners usually consist of pre-made stews or soups but given the warm afternoons, we have been in the mood for more summer-ish dinners! Lots of salads and burgers have been on our menu but I saw pumpkins and autumn squash in the stores which seemed to turn my fall taste buds on! I have been craving the warming fall flavors and started leafing through the soup sections in my recipes books looking forward to making our seasonal favorites. Had the idea of posting a weekly or biweekly Soup of Week post to share some of our … [Read more...]

There is nothing like waking up to the smell of homemade banana bread!! I had a roommate in college that used to make banana bread of Sundays. The scents from our tiny shared kitchen would flow into my room and wow was that not always a good excuse to take a study break!!
Bananas are a key staple in our house. We throw them in our smoothies, mash them into overnight oats, put them on seed butter toast, whip them up into 'nice cream' or throw them in pancake, muffins or this yummy Power Protein Banana Bread!! Given it's harder to buy super ripe bananas at our usual grocery stores, every few weeks I tend to buy several dozen bananas and let them go nice and brown and spotty or super ripe. Super ripe bananas are easily mashable and add natural sweetness to your baked goods, smoothies or oats. I also like to freeze the spotted brown bananas for the same reason. Friends or neighbors have been shocked to see the numbers of bananas we have ripening in our window sills at times but … [Read more...]

My Dad frequently made Potage Parmentier or Leek and Potato soup. He was often whipping up soups for weekend lunches for us throwing in what ever we had on hand and needed to be used up. This soup was on regular rotation as soon as the cooler weather set up. Though I am usually not a fan of heavier potato based soups, this one is a different story. It is incredibly filling, smooth and creamy, despite having no dairy of any sort in it. It’s thanks to the potatoes that it has the consistency it does. Plus it is quick to put together and only contains a few ingredients.
My challenge with this soup was getting the kids to eat it. Like many kids, they turned up their nose at this bowl of cream stuff. Immediately saying they didn’t like it even though I promised they would. I even added a little extra salt to their bowls given their love for anything salty! But every time there was a fight. Then one day I had left over pasta from last night’s dinner and I thought, would they eat it if … [Read more...]

Don't throw those pumpkin seeds out! Give them a good wash and dry then toast them in a warm oven to get a delicious seasonal and satisfying treat. They can be seasoned with just a dash of salt, a little maple syrup and a dash of cinnamon for a sweeter treat or a little oil and some smoked paprika or your favorite spices for something more savory. So many options. They are great as a snack, to throw in your morning cereal, granola, or on top of a smoothie, soup or salad.
Be sure to keep an eye on them when they are in the oven, they can burn quickly and as I found out the hard way, the inner seeds cook quicker than the outer seeds. Be sure to stir often and if they look done...take 'em out!
PUMPKIN SEEDS
While the pumpkin is roasting, wash off the pumpkin seeds and pat dry with a paper towel.
Place the seeds on a lined baking sheet and pour a half teaspoon or so or coconut oil (or olive oil) over the seeds and massaging the oil into the seeds. Lightly season with fine … [Read more...]

Oh dear its getting nippy in the morning chez les Jamiesons! I don’t know if it’s my childhood memories of coming down for breakfast, seeing my mum over the stove stirring a pot of hot oatmeal (or porridge as we called it), that makes me crave a bowl of something warm in the cooler mornings, or do we just naturally want something warm in our bellies when the weather changes? I’m not sure, but I find when the mornings start off requiring slippers and robes when I get up, my morning cravings start to change too and I find myself pulling a big pot out of the cupboard to carry on the porridge tradition with my little ladies.
Now, I am usually not a “big” breakfast kind of person but rather more of what I’d call a morning grazer. Fruit and veggie juice or smoothies are morning staples for me because I digest them well, they give me a boost of energy and I really feel best when I start my day off with a fresh juice or smoothie. They are always accompanied with or followed up by a hot … [Read more...]

In spring-summer my go-to lunch is a salad. Rarely the same one, often thrown together with last night’s left-overs or veggies and beans we prepped Sunday night. I love creating a pseudo-salad bar in my fridge where I can just reach in and throw different items together for lunch. Today’s lunch is an example of that. I had bought pomegranate arils for Twin A who put them in our cart at Trader Joe’s on Sunday but hasn’t “been in the mood” to eat them all week so not wanting them to spoil I threw them into our salad! Love the pop of color and crunch they provide plus the hint of sweetness. These little gems are known to be one of the oldest fruits, originally found in Persia. It has long been toted as a fruit very rich in antioxidants, nutrients and a symbol of vitality, fertility and health. A delicious add-on to today’s lunch!
I have always loved mushrooms and often pick them out of a stew or tomato sauce when no one is looking. I just love ‘em!! Portobellos though, were never a … [Read more...]